NASA has contracted Flagstaff startup Katalyst Space Technologies to send a robotic tug in 2026 to rendezvous with and raise the orbit of the Swift Observatory. The mission will push the roughly $500 million telescope to a higher altitude and demonstrate rapid on-orbit docking and boost technology.
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Briefing
The mission aims to extend the life of the roughly $500 million Swift Observatory by raising its orbit in 2026, demonstrating commercial on-orbit servicing and life-extension techniques; this follows an earlier study assessing feasibility of boosting Swift's orbit.
Awarding a short-notice operational mission to a small startup underscores NASA's push for rapid commercial solutions and validates industry rendezvous and proximity operations capabilities; see prior NASA contracts to study robotic systems for orbital service flights and to test RPOD and refueling demonstrations.
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NASA Awards Katalyst Space Contract to Perform On‑Orbit Spacecraft Reboost • spaceanddefense.io
(ES) NASA contracts Katalyst Space Technologies to raise the orbit of the Swift spacecraft • actualidadaeroespacial.com
NASA
• Gerelle Q Dodson